God, with great demonstration of love, forgives the truly repentant
Scripture reference
Luke 15:11–31 (ASV)
11And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of thy substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living. 14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want. 15And he went and joined himself to...
Stories
Chinese farmer, Chang Fang Yuan, heard the story of The Prodigal Son from Miss Louisa Vaughan in a tent meeting. Chang had attended simply "to hear a white woman speak Chinese," but by the end he saw himself as the Prodigal and begged to know how to get back to his Heavenly Father. This farmer was converted and boldly returned to his village in spite of the promise of great persecution.
Cheng Ting Chiah was able to powerfully relate the Parable of the Prodigal Son in his preaching because he personally identified with the story in every way. Most importantly, his identity was as a recipient of God's gracious love since he had been delivered from the terrible grip of opium.
A wealthy Italian lady of the 1920's was reading a French romance novel, into which the author wove the parable of the Prodigal Son. Quite apart from the novel, the parable struck the mind and heart of the reader such that she saw herself as the Prodigal. At the same time, God led an evangelist to her door who was able to show her the parable in Luke’s gospel, and to explain to her the implications of God’s love.
Reverend Weitbrecht shared the Good News to an ever-increasing crowd of nineteenth century Hindus. They were so taken with the love of God as depicted in the story of the Prodigal Son, that they begged him to tell them more.
Mr. Moody shares a personal story of his mother's unwavering love for her son who had left home and become a wanderer. Despite his absence, she prayed for him and hoped for his return, even setting a chair for him at Thanksgiving. When he finally returned, she forgave him without hesitation, reminding us that God too will forgive those who ask for mercy.
During a sermon in London, preacher Mr Dawson declared that there was not a single person in the city that Christ could not save. Later, a young lady asked him to help a young man who believed he couldn't be saved, leading Mr Dawson to find the man in a garret in the East End. Mr Dawson shared the gospel with the man, who eventually found peace in Christ, and Mr Dawson even managed to reconcile the man with his father before he passed away.